Sounders off today, play a week from today

The Sounders are off from training today, as their next game remains fully a week away: 7 p.m. July 3, when D.C. United visits CenturyLink Field.

Meanwhile, here are some notes from the club:

Seattle Sounders FC returned to the Pacific Northwest for the final break in action of the season. The next match is Wednesday, July 3 against D.C. United on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT.

Next Wednesday's match will be televised live on KONG 6/16 with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller calling the action, and can also be heard on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM. The match will also be broadcast live in Spanish on KOMO2 and on La Gran D 99.3 FM.

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Single-match tickets to Sounders FC home matches are available through SoundersFC.com, all Ticketmaster Outlets, the CenturyLink Field Box Office or by calling 800-745-3000.

Sounders FC (6-5-3, 21 points) dropped to sixth in the West after falling at Real Salt Lake, 2-0, last Saturday. Seattle remains one of the league's hottest teams, earning the second-most points in MLS over the past 10 games.

The month of July is welcomed by Sounders FC as it has historically provided a spark for the club, averaging nearly two points per game in 15 matches. July will be the second time this season that Sounders FC has played five league contests in one calendar month.

Despite the break in action for Sounders FC, the rest of MLS will remain busy with four U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal matchups on Wednesday followed by eight regular-season matches next weekend, including Philadelphia-Dallas on Saturday (NBC Sports Network) and New York-Houston on Sunday (ESPN).

Following next Wednesday's match against D.C. United, Sounders FC will play its first away Cascadia Cup match of the season at Vancouver on July 6. The month concludes with a road match at San Jose (July 13) and a pair of home contests versus Colorado (July 20) and Chivas USA (July 28).

Opportunity Awaits Sounders FCSounders FC will look to climb back into the MLS Cup Playoffs picture, playing the next four of six matches at home with two short road trips to Vancouver and San Jose. Just one of Seattle's five opponents next month currently hold a playoffs spot. Sounders FC will host the two teams with the lowest points total in MLS as D.C. United (9) and Chivas USA (11) will visit CenturyLink Field in July. Seattle has already beat five of its next six opponents this season, and will look to win the series with San Jose and D.C. United.

Sounders on a 10-day BreakSounders FC has had success following a 10-day break from MLS play, and will look to continue that trend with 11 days between Saturday's loss at Salt Lake and next Wednesday's home bout with D.C. United. Overall, the club is 6-5-4 with at least 10 days between league games, but is yet to win (0-3-1) in four chances this season. In 2009, the team had its best record at 3-0-1 (plus-three goal advantage). Last season, Seattle went 2-1-0 with a minus-one goal differential with 10 days in between games, as the lone loss came at Montreal on June 16. Of Seattle's 15 all-time 10-day MLS breaks, only six have not included a U.S. Open Cup or CONCACAF Champions League game.

Home is Where the Goals AreHome goals have come at a premium this season as Seattle has averaged two goals per game at CenturyLink Field, ranking third in MLS. Seattle is on pace to score the most home goals in club history, currently ahead of the 2011 average of 1.88 goals per game at home. Sounders FC has scored 11 goals in the past three home outings for the best three-game home stretch in MLS this season.

Best in 10: Seattle Remains Hot Despite Saturday's loss at Real Salt Lake, Sounders FC remains one of the top teams in MLS over the past 10 matches. Seattle is just one of three MLS sides to earn 20 or more points in the last 10 outings, matching Portland's total and falling two points shy of Supporters' Shield-leading RSL. Seattle's plus-five goal differential ranks third-best over that span.

Around the LeagueWhile Sounders FC takes its final bye weekend of the season, the rest of MLS will continue with a full slate of U.S. Open Cup and regular season matches. The quarterfinal round of the Open Cup features two all-MLS matchups as D.C. United hosts New England and the Portland Timbers visit FC Dallas. In the other two quarterfinal matchups, Chicago hosts Orlando and Carolina visits Real Salt Lake. Sixteen MLS teams return to regular season action over the weekend as the June schedule concludes. Sounders FC will keep close eye on first-place Salt Lake as they visit Toronto FC and third-place FC Dallas on the road against Philadelphia. The East-leading Montreal Impact will host Colorado, Cascadia Cup rival Vancouver visits Seattle's next opponent, D.C. United, and Western Conference foe LA Galaxy visits San Jose. Two matches will be nationally broadcast as Philadelphia-Dallas will be shown live on NBC Sports Network Saturday at 2:30 p.m. PT and ESPN will televise Sunday's New York-Houston match at 11 a.m. PT.